Woman who challenged York Mayor Michael Helfrich’s right to serve has felony convictions

(York) — One of six people who had filed a lawsuit seeking to remove York Mayor Michael Helfrich from office because of his felony convictions has at least four felonies on her record.

In an interview, Margaret Eckles-Ray said most people know her story, adding that “it’s not who I am now.” Eckles-Ray said she believes that she wouldn’t have the same privilege of holding elective office because of her criminal record — though she doesn’t have a desire to do so.

“My life is an open book. And my belief is I’m not being hypocritical because of what I believe to be true,” said Eckles-Ray, 57, of York. “It doesn’t really matter to me how people perceive it. It doesn’t.”

She later added, “We have people across the state who are black who have not been afforded this opportunity. Same commonwealth. Same laws. Different outcomes.”

In 1991, Helfrich, who was then 21, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute LSD and psilocybin mushrooms and possession of marijuana. He had offered to give a man who had 2,000 portions of LSD in his car a ride to the airport.

Helfrich was sentenced to 45 days to 23 months in York County Prison. He was elected to York City Council in 2011.

Mayor Kim Bracey took him to court, arguing that under state law, his crimes should prevent him from holding elected office. Later, Common Pleas Judge Stephen P. Linebaugh ruled that Helfrich had never been convicted of an “infamous crime” — and could continue to serve on council.

Before Helfrich was sworn in as mayor, Eckles-Ray, Rick Loper, Carla Evette Freeland, Anthony Orr, Kim Murray and Toni Smith — a former councilwoman whom he had unseated in a write-in campaign — filed a similar lawsuit. Though their attorney withdrew the case, they have vowed to refile, saying she acted without their permission.  

Loper, a spokesman for the group, said a news release that they issued is “the only comment we have at this time.”

In 1993, Eckles-Ray, who was then 32, pleaded guilty to forgery, a felony, after she cashed a stolen check for $400 and later tried to open an account under false pretenses. Then, in 1995, she pleaded guilty to two counts of retail theft, both felonies, after trying to steal shoes and jeans from a Value City and children’s clothing from Bon-Ton, according to court records.

She’s been arrested on several other lesser charges, including for writing bad checks. And she graduated from York County Drug Treatment Court in 2002.

Eckles-Ray’s most recent felony conviction came in 2011 for theft.

From July 10 to Dec. 29, 2009, Eckles-Ray cashed nine checks for $11,200 from an account belonging to the Mid-Atlantic Region of Narcotics Anonymous Inc. She served as the treasurer for the learning conference sub-committee, police said.

“I had all intents and purposes of returning it and I did not,” Eckles-Ray told Common Pleas Judge Michael E. Bortner. “I made an attempt to give them a portion of it before they pressed charges, but they didn’t want to take the risk of taking a portion of it and not getting the entire amount back and at that point becoming a civil issue instead of criminal,” she added.

In 2014, Bracey appointed Eckles-Ray to the York Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, which is tasked with overseeing policy and providing fiduciary oversight. She’s now chairwoman and her term lasts until April 1. The position is unpaid.

Bracey could not be reached for comment.

Eckles-Ray said she’s not loyal to any one mayor nor was her criminal record a secret. She noted that she holds an appointed, not an elective, position.

Chuck Hobbs, Helfrich’s attorney, declined to be interviewed.

Helfrich has said he’s focused on running the city, not what other people might do about the question of his eligibility.

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The York Daily Record.